In recent years, China has accelerated the expansion and upgrading of its service-based consumption. In 2025, per capita service consumption expenditure accounted for 46.1% of total per capita consumption expenditure, with daily life services forming a core component. The supply system for life services continues to improve: regional restaurant brands are being cultivated rapidly; cities like Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Changsha have established nighttime food districts, leveraging iconic cuisines to drive sustained growth in local dining demand; the accommodation sector is advancing toward greater branding and differentiation, with homestay clusters emerging in destinations such as Moganshan in Zhejiang and Dali in Yunnan, while a wave of premium resort hotel brands rises quickly; home care services are becoming more standardized. Furthermore, digital technologies like artificial intelligence are deeply empowering life services, giving rise to new models such as instant retail and on-demand online booking for housekeeping, significantly enhancing convenience and user experience for consumers.
It is also important to recognize that shortages in high-quality service offerings and low levels of standardization in certain sectors remain constraints on unlocking consumption potential. To drive upgrades in life services consumption and support the expansion of domestic demand, we must continue to focus on improving supply quality, innovating usage scenarios, optimizing the consumer environment, and strengthening policy coordination.
Deepen supply quality to elevate the standard of life services consumption. Strengthen food safety responsibilities in the catering industry, implement a regional restaurant brand development program, support the creation of specialty food hubs and snack industry clusters, and drive the sector toward competition based on quality and branding. Guide differentiated growth in the accommodation sector by cultivating distinctive high-quality hotel and homestay brands, improving the match between mid-to-high-end supply and demand. Establish a comprehensive home service standards system, enhance skills training and certification for practitioners, nurture leading enterprises and well-known brands in the home care field, and raise the industry's level of standardization and professionalism. Encourage top-tier life services companies to expand into county markets, addressing gaps in county-level consumption.
Deepen scenario innovation and expand growth potential in life services consumption. Pilot new consumption formats, models, and scenarios to integrate digital technologies with life services, fostering smart home care, online food ordering and delivery, and other emerging sectors. Align with the development of 15-minute community convenience circles by promoting embedded community home care and on-site customization services, effectively bridging the "last mile" of convenient public services.
Optimize the consumer environment and boost resident spending. Strengthen oversight of prepaid services, focusing on fund custody and risk early warning in sectors like housekeeping and dining where prepaid cards are common. Improve the service consumption credit system by establishing evaluation and public disclosure mechanisms for businesses in dining, lodging, and housekeeping. Enhance price regulation and consumer rights protection, and expand accessible channels for resolving consumer disputes through multiple avenues.
Strengthen policy coordination to unlock new growth in life services consumption. Coordinate the use of fiscal funds and local government special bonds to support commercial infrastructure and convenient service outlets in the life services sector. Implement tax and fee reduction policies and inclusive credit measures to lower operating costs for small, micro, and medium-sized businesses. Strengthen talent development and skills training in the industry, improve social security coverage for practitioners, and build a high-quality workforce.
